May 27, 2009

While I tend to prefer grittier southern soul to the polished and smooth northern variety, the Motown-influenced Fitz and the Tantrums' will be a nice addition to my next summer mixtape. It's blue-eyed soul with serious pop cross-over appeal. In fact, unlike most of the retro artists you hear these days, this actually sounds like something your mom or dad might have heard it on their AM radios. I hear a little of the 5th Dimension's California soul vibe going on in"Breakin' The Chains Of Love" and the chorus of "We Don't Need Love Songs" reminds me of the Spinners' "The Rubberband Man". Or maybe these songs just sound like a couple highlights off one of those old Slow Jams CDs I used to see in the bargain bins. Either way, these will go great with BBQ .